Scaups, Sonning Eye. 4th Jan 2007

I was awoken early this morning, 5am to be precise to the call of a Tawny Owl outside in the garden, i dragged myself downstairs and turned on the outside light to find a Tawny sat in the tree in the garden, i watched as it searched for prey before it finally flew off 10 minutes later.They often visit the garden and we get extremely close views of them.
Late afternoon i received the news that a Lesser Scaup and Greater Scaup had been found together at Sonning Eye Gravel Pits, Oxon, i grabbed my scope and bins and made a mad dash before it got dark.After walking what felt like a eternity i finally found a small group of birders that were watching the Scaups, a fantastic find by local birder Hugh Netley.The Lesser Scaup is a lifer for me.
Finally get not one but 2 Marsh Tits in the garden.